“I know,” Bella admitted. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but I do know this—you were meant for each other. Whatever challenges come your way, you’ll figure them out together. But you have to give him a chance.”
Dani hesitated, her eyes searching Bella’s. “You really think I should?”
“Yes,” Bella said without hesitation. “Robyn cares about you deeply, Dani. I saw it in his eyes this morning. He’s hurting just as much as you are.”
Dani bit her lip, considering Bella’s words. “I don’t even know what to say to him.”
“Start with the truth,” Bella suggested gently. “Tell him how you feel. Let him tell you how he feels. You don’t have to have all the answers right now.”
Dani nodded slowly. “Maybe… maybe I’ll call him later.”
Bella smiled softly. “That’s a good start. For now, though, eat something, okay? You need your strength if you’re going to tackle this.”
Dani glanced at the tray of food, hesitating, but eventually picked up a piece of toast. “Thank you, Bella.”
“Anytime,” Bella replied. “You’re like a sister to me. I just want to see you happy.”
Dani managed a small smile, the first one Bella had seen in days. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. Bella stood and quietly left the room, hoping she had done enough to mend what had been broken. For now, all she could do was wait and see.
Dani’s tears continued to fall, but her expression softened slightly. Bella could see the inner conflict in her eyes. She was hurt, confused, and scared, but the love she had for Robyn was still there, even if she didn’t want to admit it.
“I don’t know, Bella,” Dani whispered, her voice cracking. “What if it doesn’t work? What if he lies to me again?”
Bella reached out and gently held Dani’s hands in hers. “Every relationship has challenges, Dani. But love is about giving each other a chance to grow and be better. Robyn made a mistake by not telling you, but I truly believe he was trying to protect you. Maybe he was scared of losing you. Sometimes we mess up because we care too much.”
Dani looked down at their joined hands, her lips trembling. “You really think he loves me that much?”
“I don’t think, Dani,” Bella said softly. “I know. I’ve seen it in his eyes, in the way he talked about you, and in the way he came to me, desperate to fix things. He loves you more than anything. But you’ll never know for sure unless you talk to him.”
Dani took a shaky breath, her tears slowing as she processed Bella’s words. “What if I call him and he just… I don’t know… says all the right things but doesn’t mean them?”
Bella smiled gently. “You’ll know, Dani. Trust your instincts. Your heart will tell you if he’s being genuine. And if he isn’t, then you walk away knowing you tried. But don’t let fear stop you from giving love a chance.”
For a moment, Dani sat in silence, her gaze distant. Finally, she nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. “Okay. I’ll call him. But not right now. I need some time to think.”
“That’s fair,” Bella said, relief washing over her. “Take all the time you need. But don’t wait too long. Sometimes, the longer you wait, the harder it gets.”
Dani nodded again, and Bella stood, giving her a small smile. “I’ll leave you to rest. Eat something, okay? You’ll feel better.”
As Bella turned to leave, Dani’s voice stopped her. “Bella?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you… for everything.”
Bella gave her a reassuring smile. “Always, Dani. You’re family to me.”
She closed the door quietly behind her and leaned against it for a moment, exhaling deeply. She knew she had done the right thing, but now it was up to Dani and Robyn to figure out the rest. For now, all she could do was hope.
Bella sat on the staircase for a moment longer, her head resting against the banister. Her thoughts were swirling—about Dani, Robyn, Luke, and the precarious situation she was trying to navigate. Every move felt like walking on a tightrope, and the pressure was relentless. She closed her eyes, trying to gather her strength before tackling the next task.
The weight of telling Matt and Nina the truth was immense. She had kept them in the dark for so long, not because she wanted to deceive them, but because the truth was too dangerous, too painful. But now, with Luke here in the city and his determination evident, it was clear that keeping them in the dark was no longer an option.
She sighed deeply and made her way to the kitchen, where Nina was sitting at the breakfast table with the triplets, chatting and laughing. It was such a normal scene, so serene, that Bella almost hated to disrupt it. But it had to be done.
“Nina,” Bella said softly, drawing her friend’s attention. “Can we talk? Privately?”
Nina’s brow furrowed slightly, but she nodded and stood. “Matt’s in the study. Let’s go there.”
Bella followed her down the hall to the study, her heart pounding with every step. When they entered, Matt looked up from his laptop, immediately sensing the seriousness in Bella’s expression. He closed his laptop and gestured for her to sit.
“What’s going on, Bella?” Matt asked, his tone calm but concerned.
She hesitated, glancing between the two of them. “There’s something I need to tell you. Something I should have told you a long time ago.”
Nina sat beside Matt, her worry evident. “Okay, we’re listening.”
Bella took a deep breath, her hands clasping tightly in her lap. “Luke… the man who’s been sending people after me, the one you’ve helped me file reports against… he’s the father of my children.”
The room went completely silent. Matt and Nina exchanged a shocked glance, and Nina’s mouth opened and closed a few times as if she were searching for words.
“You mean…” Nina finally managed, “the Alpha?”
“Yes,” Bella confirmed, her voice steady but quiet. “He’s their father. He doesn’t know them, but now that he’s found me, he’s not going to stop until he gets to them.”
“Bella…” Matt started, his voice a mixture of concern and disbelief. “Why didn’t you tell us this before? We could have helped you more—protected you better.”
“I didn’t want to put you in danger,” Bella admitted, her voice trembling slightly. “Luke is… complicated. He’s powerful, and he doesn’t take no for an answer. I didn’t want you or the kids to get caught in the crossfire.”
Nina leaned forward, placing a hand on Bella’s. “You should have trusted us, Bella. We’re your family. We would never turn our backs on you.”
